Automatic controls

[Jeremy Hughes]

Forgive me if this has been asked or if everybody (except for me) knows but. Are there any automatic controls? I always hear about manual controls for everything and never once heard about automatic. There has to be automatic right? How else would this be a viable ENG camera?

Furthermore, are the automatic controls revolutionary? Or are they just your average automatic controls. And could they be useful in filmmaking for an inexperienced new DP?

It's simple enought to set the controls before you start shooting, but how about changing the settings while recording? As if you were shooting a show such as COPS, and you move from the dark outdoors to the bright indoors and had no time to change the apperture. Just your everyday automatic control usage I guess.

But if you shoot RAW, you won't have to worry about shooting the wrong white balance. And since you can adjust the gain in post, you won't really have to worry about that right?

[Michael Ragen]

No automatic controls for focus or iris.
Speaking of cops type stuff from moving from bright outdoors to dark indoors, my friend's father won an award for an ENG shot he did like what you describe with a manual iris rack while moving indoors. Hopefully there will be an easy way to keyframe white balance in post.

I'm tempted to buy two Supergrips (each one can support two motors I believe) so I have control over zoom/focus/iris for run n' gun situations.

[Jeremy Hughes]

No automatic controls for focus or iris.

That's really too bad. Wow.

[Leo Ticheli]

Why do you want to make the Red camera something it clearly is not?

If you want an ENG camera, there are plenty of them out there with sufficient image quality and all the automatic functions you could want at a price considerably lower than the Red.

Attention Red Zealots: Please,please do not flame me. I already know you believe the Red camera is the ideal device for every shooting project yet or to be conceived, that it will chop, slice, julienne, and shrink-wrap in one easy step.

I know that you can stick a cheap 2/3" chip camera lens on it and fire away with just a bit of the sensor, but you're still left with a pretty heavy camera that doesn't even have an ND or color temperature filter wheel. ENG shooters typically don't have an assistant ready to throw ND in the matte box.

All cameras, Red included, have attributes that are advantages for some situations and liabilities in others.

I hate to keep saying this, but here goes; I love the Red camera. For my uses, it promises to completely change the game. I can scarcely wait for ours to arrive. I just can't see it as an ENG vehicle.

Good shooting and best regards to all,

Leo

[David Mullen ASC]

What's innovative about the RED camera is that it is a true digital cinema camera, not an adaptation of existing ENG designs and broadcast TV mentalities. I don't think Jim really put this much effort and money just to put out one more 1080P ENG video camera on the market.

Also, most pro ENG camcorders don't have auto-focusing...

[Priyesh P.]

how is it possible that someone makes 226 postings and still doesn´t know about the very basic nature of this camera?

[IAN SUN]

how is it possible that someone makes 226 postings and still doesn´t know about the very basic nature of this camera?

Damn, you must be reading my mind. That's exactly what I was going to say.

kinda creepy ; ) eh Limpidity?

[Joe Aurili]

OK, then what type of tapes does red use? ;)

[Brook Willard]

OK, then what type of tapes does red use? ;)

3/4" VHS.

[Shawn Nelson]

Damn it Brook, I was hoping for Hi8! What else am I supposed to do with my still unopened spares?